Ndlovu E, Filmalter C, Jordaan J, Heyns T
Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa.
South Afr J Crit Care. 2022 May 6;38(1). doi: 10.7196/SAJCC.2022.v38i1.517. eCollection 2022.
Professional quality of life, measured as compassion satisfaction, is a prerequisite for nurses working in intensive care units where patients rely on their care. Nurses who experience compassion satisfaction, or good professional quality of life, engage enthusiastically with all work activities and render quality patient care. In contrast, compassion fatigue eventually leads to disengagement from work activities and unsatisfactory patient outcomes. In this study, we described the demographic factors influencing professional quality of life of intensive care nurses working in public hospitals in Gauteng, South Africa (SA), during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
To describe the demographic factors associated with professional quality of life of critical care nurses working in Gauteng, SA.
In this cross-sectional study, we used total population sampling and invited all nurses who had worked for at least 1 year in one of the critical care units of three selected public hospitals in Gauteng to participate. One-hundred and fifty-four nurses responded and completed the ProQol-5 tool during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics.
The nurses' average age was 45 years, and 59.1% (n=91) had an additional qualification in critical care nursing. Most of the nurses had a diploma (51.3%; n=79), with a mean work experience of 12.56 years. The main demographic variables that influenced professional quality of life were years of work experience (p=0.047), nurses' education with specific reference to a bachelor's degree (p=0.006) and nurse-patient ratio (p<0.001).
Nurses working in critical care units in public hospitals in Gauteng experienced low to moderate compassion satisfaction, moderate to high burnout and secondary traumatic stress, suggesting compassion fatigue. The high workload, which may have been associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, influenced nurses' professional quality of life.
This study reports on the important problem of compassion fatigue and burnout amongst South African ICU nurses working in the public sector. Associated factors were identified, which should be addressed to improve nurses' wellbeing.
以同情满意度衡量的职业生活质量是在重症监护病房工作的护士的一项先决条件，因为患者依赖他们的护理。体验到同情满意度或良好职业生活质量的护士会积极参与所有工作活动并提供高质量的患者护理。相比之下，同情疲劳最终会导致对工作活动的疏离以及患者护理结果不尽人意。在本研究中，我们描述了在南非豪登省第一波新冠疫情期间，影响公立医院重症监护护士职业生活质量的人口统计学因素。
描述与南非豪登省重症监护护士职业生活质量相关的人口统计学因素。
在这项横断面研究中，我们采用整群抽样，邀请了在豪登省三家选定公立医院的重症监护病房中工作至少1年的所有护士参与。154名护士做出回应，并在新冠疫情第一波期间完成了职业生活质量量表（ProQol-5）。数据采用描述性和推断性统计方法进行分析。
护士的平均年龄为45岁，59.1%（n = 91）拥有重症护理方面的额外资质。大多数护士拥有文凭（51.3%；n = 79），平均工作经验为12.56年。影响职业生活质量的主要人口统计学变量是工作年限（p = 0.047）、特别是学士学位的护士教育程度（p = 0.006）以及护患比（p < 0.001）。
在豪登省公立医院重症监护病房工作的护士经历了低到中度的同情满意度、中度到高度的职业倦怠和继发性创伤压力，表明存在同情疲劳。可能与新冠疫情相关的高工作量影响了护士的职业生活质量。
本研究报告了南非公共部门重症监护护士中同情疲劳和职业倦怠这一重要问题。确定了相关因素，应加以解决以改善护士的福祉。
